The Impending Death Of The Manual Mercedes Is Really No Big Deal

Mercedes says it'll phase out the manual gearbox in its range, which is - when you think about it - of little consequence
The Impending Death Of The Manual Mercedes Is Really No Big Deal

In the latest ‘death of the manual’ development, Mercedes has said it’ll soon turn its back on stick shift as a cost-cutting measure. As quoted by well-connected motoring journalist Greg Kable, Mercedes R&D boss Markus Schaefer noted that the company will soon “eliminate manual transmissions”.

Our first reaction to this revelation? We’d forgotten Mercedes still makes any of its cars with an old-fashioned cog box. The last time I drove one was - I think - about six years ago, and a quick peruse of Mercedes’ UK configurator shows that the only manual models still available are the A180 and A200 hatchback and saloon. Those are the entry-level derivatives with the Mercedes/Nissan-developed 1.3-litre.

The Impending Death Of The Manual Mercedes Is Really No Big Deal

In terms of passenger cars, that’s your lot. The W205 C-Class was initially offered with a manual, but it’s now automatic-only for the UK market. As for those lower-spec A-Classes, both have the option of a dual-clutch auto for £1600, something 52 per cent of UK A180 buyers went for.

When contacted by The Drive, Mercedes clarified the impending manual death at Stuttgart, noting that it’ll be tied in with the reduction of its internal combustion range by 40 per cent by 2025 and 70 per cent by 2030. “This includes that we will not offer manual transmissions in the mid-term,” a spokesperson said, adding, “However, this change will happen ‘naturally’ when we change to a new generation of vehicles”.

Something of a rarity - a modern Mercedes manual
Something of a rarity - a modern Mercedes manual

This doesn’t seem like a big deal at all, and not just because the only contemporary Mercedes manuals are in entry-level cars with small engines. No - it’s because the company arguably places a greater emphasis on comfort than its two German rivals, to the point where a manual car from the marque just seems weird.

The fast AMG stuff has historically been automatic, too. There hasn’t been a single manual model from the outfit since it became part of Mercedes, and pre-merger, it was almost entirely focused on making autos. We wouldn’t have it any other way, either - these normally V8-powered brutes have always suited auto boxes, and the inline-four-powered ‘35 and ‘45 AMGs aren’t crying out for stick shift either.

The Impending Death Of The Manual Mercedes Is Really No Big Deal

The last Mercedes that actually made sense with a manual was the 190E 2.3/2.5-16 ‘Cosworth’. The five-speed, dog-leg box (an automatic was also available) it shared with the E30 BMW M3 wasn’t brilliant, as it happens, due to a rubbery, unsatisfying shift.

In a way, there is a slight tinge of sadness to this development, since it’s emblematic of the industry’s shift away from the manual, which the rise of BEVs will merely accelerate. But for Mercedes specifically, it’s almost a surprise they still offer them in 2020.

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Comments

That_1_Guy

the surprising part of the headline was not that mercedes were getting rid of manuals, but instead still had them

10/07/2020 - 11:59 |
12 | 0

Yep, today I learned that Mercedes still made manual gearboxes. I thought they stopped doing that in the early 2000s.

10/08/2020 - 00:15 |
0 | 0
DG65425

I don’t like where the world is going

10/07/2020 - 12:43 |
2 | 0
Niko Ala-Rämi 🇫🇮

In reply to by DG65425

It’s actually the people. As someone once said, people always want to take the easiest option, in this case an automatic. Car makers would make manuals if it was profitable

10/07/2020 - 15:12 |
0 | 0
🎺🎺thank mr skeltal

In Germany you can still get the C180d and C200d with a manual transmission. These are mostly for company cars where a manual is still the default option. You can also get the BMW 318d and Audi A4 whatever-number-is-the-lowest-engine TDI with manual.

10/07/2020 - 13:51 |
2 | 0

Yep this was referring to the UK market - have since clarified

10/07/2020 - 15:50 |
0 | 0
Tomislav Celić

I’ll be honest here, a manual Mercedes isn’t something I wish for, ever.

Out of Audi, Mercedes and BMW, I could only find myself driving a manual BMW. Audi is too high tech for a manual, and Mercedes is too comfortable and elegant, with BMW being the only one I can logically see a manual gearbox work

10/07/2020 - 15:15 |
0 | 0
slevo beavo

The manual box in modern mercedes is rubbish anyway Aso no real lose.

10/08/2020 - 06:30 |
0 | 0
The Silver Paseo EL54

I can pretty much agree with the article, a manual Merc is not something that especially goes with their vibe. On the other hand though, being a MB employee I’ve had a numerous occasions to drive those. From the driving enthusiast standpoint, a peppy 163hp engine, compact CLA Shooting Brake body, fantastic suspension rolling on 18-inch wheels, all that paired with a meaty 6-speed manual and smooth clutch with a lot of feel, that package is really joyful one. They truly put a lot of work to make this gearbox work great, even if its soon to be axed.

10/08/2020 - 09:10 |
0 | 0